Lamp switch



July 6, 1954 B. F. MOLENDA 2,683,211

LAMP swITcH Filed Dec. 10, 1949 INVENTOR. BERNARD F. MOLENDA.

j'lfl NEYI.

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PAENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a lamp switch adapted for use on that type of lamp which has a shade mounted adjacent the upper portion thereof and which is generally open at the top and the bottom. The light bulb is embraced by the shade and usually a switch is associated with the light bulb and also contained within the shade or embraced by it so that in order to turn the light on or oil, it is necessary to reach up into the shade from the lower side thereof. Due to the fact that the switch is not visible this operation of turning the switch on or off frequently becomes a clumsy one rendering it most inconvenient to turn the switch on orv off.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, in association with such a lamp, a switch so constructed, arranged and mounted that these disadvantages may be avoided and the switch easily and quickly turnedon or off.

It is another object of the present invention to provide, in association with such a lamp, a switch which is accessible exteriorly of the lamp shade and which will not mar the fine appearance of the lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in association with such a lamp, a switch projecting centrally above the lamp shade. and which may be operated by being pressed downwardly.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated and the present disclosure is intended to be but the preferred embodiment.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a lamp embodying my invention with a part broken away,

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the switch mechanism with parts shown in fragment and all enlarged,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings I have illustrated the lamp as comprising a base 9 projecting upwardly from which are the tubular rigid arms I and I I. This base 3 preferably is hollow and extended upwardly through the base and through the arm II is the light cord I2 in which are the electric wires !3 and I4. Mounted on these arms I ii and II is a block I of insulating material having the hollowed out recess I6 to provide a housing for the switch. A cover I1 is provided for the upper end of the switch housing. Attached to the shade and extending diametrically across same is a frame embodying rods or wires to which is attached the plate 20 which is adapted to sit over the cover I 1 and which is held in position by the nut lBa threaded on the neck I9a which projects upwardly from the cover I 7. In this manner the shade 2i is supported on the switch housing.

Supported on the block I5 is a metallic sleeve 22 to which the wire I4 is attached and into which is threaded the metallic neck 23 of the light bulb 24, this neck 23 serving as one of the terminals of the light bulb and the other terminal 23 being in engagement with the metallic strip 23 which is attached or forms a part of the metallic bracket 21 mounted on the block !5. The wire 58 is connected to the resilient metallic strip 28 which also is mounted on the block 55. These members 27 and 28 constitute a part of the switch.

Mounted on the member I3 is a rod 23 which serves as an axle on which rotates the hub 30 projecting outwardly from which are the spaced apart arms 3| and also the contact making arms 32 which are in spaced relation to the arms 3! and which are adapted to ride into contact with the members 21 and 28 upon a rotation of the hub 30.

Slidably projected through the cover ii and the neck I9 is a rod 33 on which is fixedly mounted a collar 34 against which engages one end of a coil spring 35, the opposite end of which engages the face of the neck I 9 so as to normally maintain the rod 33 in elevated position. Mounted on the upper end of the rod 33 is a knob 33. Fixedly mounted on the rod 33 below the cover I? is a collar 3'5 to limit the upward movement of the rod 33, the spring 35 normally urging the rod 33 upwardly.

This rod 33 has the angularly turned hollow end 38 on which is pivotally mounted an actuating dog 39 having a counterweight 40 at one end. The construction is such that as the rod 33 is forced downwardly the end of the dog 39 will engage one of the arms 3I which are made of insulating material and have diagonally cut ends. As the downward movement of this red 33 continues the hub 33 will rotate thus effecting a rotation of the arms 32 which are made of electrical conductive material. As the arm 32 engages between the contacts 2'! and 28 the circuit to the light bulb will be made and as these arms 32 disengage the contacts 21 and 28 the circuit to the light bulb will be broken. When the downward pressure on the rod 33 is released this rod 33 will move upwardly and dog 39 will rock on its pivot so that the engaging end thereof will clear the diagonal- 1y cut ends of the arms 31. Consequently, if on the downward movement of the rod 33 one of arms 32 had been brought into circuit making position, upon the next downward movement of the rod 93 this arm 32 will be moved out of contact with the members 21 and 28 so as to break the circuit to the light bulb 24. On the second next downward movement the succeeding arm 32 will be moved into circuit making posi tion. It will be noted that the arms 3| are twice the number of the arms 32 and this is necessary to efiect this function and action.

In this manner I have provided a switch for a shade bearing lamp in which the mechanism is so constructed, arranged and mounted that the switch may be readily opened and closed" without requiring the person to insert his hand into the shade from the outside thereof.

What I claim is:

i. In combination, a lamp base; aswitch housing supported on said base; a light bulb socket on said housing; a light bulb: in said'socket having a pair of terminals; an electric circuit connected to said light bulb; in said housing and interposed in said circuit for making and breaking the same; a lamp shade; a frame carried by said lamp shade; a plate positioned centrally on said frame-and supported by said switch housing; securing said plate in position on said housing, said shade enclosing said housing; a rod projecting downwardly at one end into said housing and at its other end outwardly therefrom through the top thereof and longitudinally movable; a dog pivotally mounted on the inner end of said rod; a rotatable hub in said housing; a set consisting of a plurality of circumferentially alined and spaced-apart arms on. said hub engageable with said dog; a. second set of spaced apart, circumferentially alined arms of electrically conductive material fixedon said hub and axially spaced from said first set, said switch mechanism embodying a pair of spaced-apart contacts, the arms of said second set, upon the rotation of said hub, riding between-and engaging said contacts for making a circuit, said arms of said first set being engag-eable with said dogupon downward movement of said rod and said hub being rotatable upon downwardmovement of said rod after engagement of said dog with said arms.

2. In combination a lamp base; a pair of hollow rods extending upwardly from said base; a housa switch mechanism a securing member for ing of insulating material mounted on said rods; a light bulb socket in said housing; a light bulb threaded into said socket; electric conductive wires passing through one of said arms, one of said wires being connected to said lamp bulb socket and through the same to the neck of said lamp bulb, said neck constituting a terminal of said light bulb; a bracket mounted in said housing, said bracket being connected to the other of said wires; a resilient contact member in said housing in parallel spaced relation to said bracket, said contact member being connected to the other terminal of said light bulb; a rotatable hub in said housing; a set consisting of a plurality of circumferentially alined and spaced-apart radially projecting arms of electrically non-conductive material fixed on said hub; a second set of circumferentially alined, spaced-apart electrically conductive arms fixed on said hub and spaced axially from said first set and adapted, upon rotation of said hub, to extend between said bracket and said resilient contact member and engage the same; a lamp housing mounted on and enclosing said firstnamed housing; a rod projecting at one end through the top of said first-named housing and terminating therein and extending at its opposite end above said lamp shade'and being longitudinally movable; a spring for normally urging said rod upwardly; a dog pivotally mounted on the inner lower end of. said rod and engageable, upon downward movement of said rod, with said arms of said first set for effecting a rotation of said hub for making and breaking the circuit to said light bulb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,803 Goldkind et a1. Oct. 31, 1893 1,986,507 Bronson Feb. 10, 1914 1,676,079 Condit July 3, 1923 1,682,599 C'ondit Aug. 23, 1928 1,974,054 Popp M Sept. 18, 1934 2,267,895 Boynton Dec. 30, 1941 2,459,898 Stiffel Jan. 25, 1949 2,472,632 Trompeter June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 623,853 France Mar. 28, 1927 461,842 Ger-many June 28, 1928 524,784 Great Britain Aug. 14, 1940 

